The War Widow

Billie Walker Mystery Series, Book 1

By: Tara Moss

Narrated by: Corinne Davies

Length: 12 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

AN INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER!

The war may be officially over, but journalist Billie Walker's search for a missing young immigrant man will plunge her right back into the danger and drama she thought she'd left behind in Europe in this thrilling tale of courage and secrets set in glamorous postwar Sydney.

Sydney, 1946. Though war correspondent Billie Walker is happy to finally be home, for her the heady postwar days are tarnished by the loss of her father and the disappearance in Europe of her husband, Jack. To make matters worse, now that the war is over, the newspapers are sidelining her reporting talents to prioritize jobs for returning soldiers. But Billie is a survivor and she's determined to take control of her own future. So, she reopens her late father's business, a private investigation agency, and, slowly, the women of Sydney come knocking.

At first, Billie's bread and butter is tailing cheating husbands. Then, a young man, the son of European immigrants, goes missing, and Billie finds herself on a dangerous new trail that will lead up into the highest levels of Sydney society and down into its underworld. What is the young man’s connection to an exclusive dance club and a high-class auction house? When the people Billie questions about the young man start to turn up dead, Billie is thrown into the path of Detective Inspector Hank Cooper. Will he take her seriously, or will he just get in her way? As the danger mounts and Billie realizes that much more than one young man’s life is at stake, it becomes clear that though the war was won, it is far from over.

©2020 Tara Moss (P)2020 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The setting feels simultaneously familiar and exotic. Neatly incorporates history, social commentary, and a satisfying mystery in one appealing package. More, please!” (Kirkus Reviews)

"Spirited...thoroughly researched and anchored by the spunky, sympathetic heroine at its heart...Readers will finish the book clamoring for Billie's next case." (Booklist)

"Rich period detail and a fierce, feminist heroine distinguish this stylish twist on the classic 1940s detective novel." (Publishers Weekly)

Slow start then rushed ending

The narrator is slow and sometimes difficult to understand. I almost stopped listening and deleted this book. But I stuck with it and overall it ended well. Predictable with a good ending leaving a hook for a sequel.

Reminds me of Miss Fisher mysteries

Reader has a strong Australian accent which adds to a good story. Unusual and entertaining mystery with clothing descriptions and social mores for women of the time which the lead character cheerfully ignores.

Narrator needs some training in pronunciation

Major character name was mispronounced throughout. Various other mispronunciations made this difficult to hear.

Meh

This wasn't the best WWII novel I have read (listened to) but it also wasn't the worst. I loved that the author was original in Billie's character and her role in the war. Billie's character is very relatable.

There just wasn't anything that stood out to me to make this a "wow" kind of novel.

Not for me

The War Widow has an interesting premise but I didn't connect with the characters and couldn't get into the book.